Real Mallorca vs Sporting Gijon preview - Sporting hope for another victory

Posted Saturday, January 29, 2011 by PA

Sporting Gijon will look to continue their recent revival with a third straight Primera Division win - and a first at home in the league this season - as they travel to Real Mallorca on Saturday.

Back-to-back victories over Hercules and Atletico Madrid at El Molinon have seen the Asturian outfit climb out of the relegation zone, although the northerners sit just two points above the bottom three ahead of the game.

Sporting coach Manolo Preciado, who has been under pressure for most of the campaign, hopes his side can reproduce their recent good form on the road.

"The six points give us a big boost and are very important for our confidence," he said.

"We have defended extremely well in the last two games, but now we have to tighten up away from home and become harder to beat away from El Molinon."

Preciado believes a solid defence is the key to survival.

"Victories are built on the back of a tight defence," he said.

"If we can stop teams from scoring, a big part of our job will be done."

Full-back Jose Angel Valdes has offers from Malaga and Fiorentina and is set to leave the club in the next few days.

The game against Mallorca could therefore be his last for the Asturian outfit.

Mallorca, in ninth place, come into this match on the back of consecutive defeats in Madrid - against Real and Atletico.

Coach Michael Laudrup has problems in attack for Saturday's game, with Pierre Webo the only recognised striker available.

Argentinian forward Fernando Cavenaghi has travelled to Brazil to negotiate a move to Internacional Porto Alegre, while Victor Casadesus is sidelined with a serious injury.

Nevertheless, defender Nunes hopes his side can return to winning ways at home following consecutive defeats on the road.

"We have to be strong in our home games and take points from those," he said.

"We have to win and that's what we'll be aiming to do."